Sensor panel

ABSTRACT

A sensor panel is overlaid on a display apparatus and connected to an integrated circuit that detects a position of an active pen in an active region of the display apparatus. The sensor panel includes first electrodes that extend in a first direction. The sensor panel also includes second electrodes that extend in a second direction. The first electrodes include first and second outer electrodes that are located at the outermost edges of the first electrodes and first inner electrodes disposed between the first and second outer electrodes. A width of at least one of the first and second outer electrodes in the second direction is smaller than a width of each of the first inner electrodes in the second direction.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present technology relates to a sensor panel and particularly to asensor panel overlaid on a display apparatus for use.

Background Art

In tablet electronic equipment with a function to detect finger andstylus positions, a sensor panel is placed over a display panel. Thesensor panel has a plurality of linear electrodes. The linear electrodesinclude, in a region overlapping an active region (display region) ofthe display panel, a plurality of x electrodes that extend in a ydirection and that are arranged at regular intervals in an x directionand a plurality of y electrodes that extend in the x direction and thatare arranged at regular intervals in the y direction. These electrodesare connected to an integrated circuit (sensor controller) that detectsfingers and styluses via a plurality of wires and a plurality of FPC(Flexible Printed Circuits) connection terminals provided in a regionoverlapping a bezel region of the display panel.

An active pen is known as a type of stylus. An active pen is a stylusthat includes a power supply section and a signal processing circuit andthat is configured to be able to send a pen signal by supplying chargeproportional to a signal generated by the signal processing circuit toan electrode provided near a pen tip (pen electrode). During detectionof the active pen, of the plurality of linear electrodes provided in thesensor panel, the one near the pen tip detects a pen signal and suppliesthe pen signal to the sensor controller via the above FPC connectionterminal. The sensor controller determines an X coordinate of the activepen on the basis of the reception level of the pen signal in each xelectrode and a y coordinate of the active pen on the basis of thereception level of the pen signal in each y electrode, thereby detectingthe active pen position in a touch surface.

Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2014-063249 discloses a position detectorcapable of detecting both fingers and active pens.

However, in the case where the sensor panel is overlaid on the displayapparatus as described above, the area of the portion of the sensorpanel provided outside the active region may increase. This hindersbezel slimming, an ongoing trend in recent years, which is the reasonwhy improvement may be needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is desirable to provide a sensor panel that realizes bezel slimmingin tablet electronic equipment.

A sensor panel according to a first embodiment of the present disclosureis a sensor panel overlaid on a display apparatus and connected to anintegrated circuit that detects a position of an active pen in an activeregion of the display apparatus. The sensor panel includes a pluralityof first electrodes that extend in a first direction, wherein the firstelectrodes are arranged side by side in a second direction differentfrom the first direction, and are connected to the integrated circuit bya plurality first routing wires that are different from each other. Thesensor panel also includes a plurality of second electrodes that extendin the second direction, wherein the second electrodes are arranged sideby side in the first direction, and that are connected to the integratedcircuit by a plurality second routing wires that are different from eachother. The plurality of first electrodes include first and second outerelectrodes that are located at outermost edges of the first electrodesand a plurality of first inner electrodes disposed between the first andsecond outer electrodes. A width of at least one of the first and secondouter electrodes in the second direction is smaller than a width of eachof the first inner electrodes in the second direction.

A sensor panel according to a second embodiment of the presentdisclosure is a sensor panel overlaid on a display apparatus andconnected to an integrated circuit that detects the position of anactive pen in an active region of the display apparatus. The sensorpanel includes a plurality of first electrodes that extend in a firstdirection, wherein the first electrodes are arranged side by side in asecond direction different from the first direction, and are connectedto the integrated circuit by a plurality first routing wires that aredifferent from each other. The sensor panel also includes a plurality ofsecond electrodes that extend in the second direction, wherein thesecond electrodes are arranged side by side in the first direction, andare connected to the integrated circuit by a plurality second routingwires that are different from each other. At least one of first andsecond outer electrodes that are located at the outermost edges of thefirst electrodes includes a first cover section that covers at least oneof the second routing wires.

A sensor panel according to a third embodiment of the present disclosureis a sensor panel overlaid on a display apparatus for use and at leastconnected to an integrated circuit that detects the position of anactive pen in an active region of the display apparatus. The sensorpanel includes a plurality of first electrodes that extend in a firstdirection, wherein the first electrodes are arranged side by side in asecond direction different from the first direction, and are connectedto the integrated circuit by a plurality first routing wires that aredifferent from each other. The sensor panel also includes a plurality ofsecond electrodes that extend in the second direction, wherein thesecond electrodes are arranged side by side in the first direction, andare connected to the integrated circuit by a plurality second routingwires that are different from each other. The first electrodes includefirst and second outer electrodes that are located at the outermostedges of the first electrodes and a plurality of first inner electrodesdisposed between the first and second outer electrodes. At least one ofthe first and second outer electrodes includes a mesh-shaped conductorthat is formed such that a mesh density outside the active region ishigher than the mesh density inside the active region.

The first and third embodiments of the present disclosure reduce thewidth of a portion of at least one of the first and second outerelectrodes provided outside the active region, thereby reducing the areaof a portion of the sensor panel provided outside the active region. Asa result, bezel slimming may be realized in tablet electronic equipment.

In the second embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the first andsecond outer electrodes is arranged over the second routing wires,thereby reducing the area of the portion of the sensor panel providedoutside the active region. As a result, bezel slimming may be realizedin tablet electronic equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating configurations of electronicequipment 1 and an active pen 10 according to a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of part of a sensor panel 5illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic equipment 1corresponding to line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram describing detection of a pointing position throughan active capacitive coupling scheme;

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensor panel 5according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic equipment 1corresponding to line B-B illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensor panel 5according to a first modification example of the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a diagram describing a problem that may arise in the sensorpanel 5 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic enlarged views of part of the sensor panel5 according to second to fourth modification examples of the secondembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensor panel 5according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensor panel 5according to a background technology of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic equipment1 corresponding to line C-C illustrated in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A detailed description will be given below of embodiments of the presenttechnology with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating configurations of electronic equipment1 and an active pen 10 according to a first embodiment of the presenttechnology. FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of part of a sensorpanel 5 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectionalview of the electronic equipment 1 corresponding to line A-A illustratedin FIG. 2. FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams and do not necessarilymatch FIG. 1.

The electronic equipment 1 according to the present embodiment is, forexample, a tablet computer and includes a host controller 2, a displaypanel 3 (display apparatus), a sensor controller 4, and the sensor panel5 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The host controller 2 is a computer having a processor and a memory(both not depicted), and the processor reads and executes the programstored in the memory, thereby performing a variety of processing taskssuch as controlling different sections of the electronic equipment 1including the display panel 3 and the sensor controller 4 illustratedand executing various applications including a drawing application. Thememory includes a main memory such as DRAM (Dynamic Random AccessMemory) and an auxiliary storage apparatus such as flash memory.

The display panel 3 includes an active region A and a bezel region B asillustrated in FIG. 3. The active region A is a rectangular region witha plurality of pixels (not depicted) arranged therein in a matrix form.A drive circuit (not depicted) provided in the display panel 3 achievesarbitrary display in the active region A by driving each pixel undercontrol of the host controller 2. The bezel region B is a belt-shapedregion provided between an outer periphery Aa of the active region A andan outer edge of the display panel 3. The bezel region B has the abovedrive circuit and wires (not depicted) for connecting each of the pixelsin the active region A to the drive circuit provided therein. Specificexamples of the display panel 3 are a liquid crystal display, an organicelectroluminescence (EL) display, and an electronic paper.

The sensor controller 4 and the sensor panel 5 are input apparatuses tothe host controller 2. Of these, the sensor controller 4 is anintegrated circuit (IC) for detecting the position of the active pen 10and a user's finger (not depicted) at least inside the active region ofthe display panel 3. The sensor controller 4 may detect the positions ofthe active pen 10 and the user's finger not only inside but also outsidethe active region A. The finger position detection function of thesensor controller 4 may not be needed. The sensor panel 5 is overlaid onthe display panel 3 for use and connected to the sensor controller 4.

Describing in detail the sensor panel 5 first, the sensor panel 5includes a plurality of linear electrodes 5 x, a plurality of linearelectrodes 5 y, a plurality of wires 6 x, and a plurality of wires 6 yillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of guard wires LG illustratedin FIG. 1, an adhesive sheet 23, film 24, an adhesive sheet 25, andcover glass 26 illustrated in FIG. 3.

Each of the plurality of linear electrodes 5 x and the plurality oflinear electrodes 5 y is a plate- or mesh-shaped conductor. In the casewhere the plurality of linear electrodes 5 x and the plurality of linearelectrodes 5 y are mesh-shaped conductors, the shape illustrated in FIG.1 and other figures depicts an outer shape as a whole, and the shape andlayout of the linear electrodes 5 x and 5 y which will be describedbelow applies to this outer shape. FIGS. 10 and 11 which will bedescribed later specifically illustrate examples of mesh-shapedconductors.

The plurality of linear electrodes 5 x (first electrodes) extend in a ydirection (first direction) and are arranged side by side in an xdirection orthogonal to the y direction (second direction different fromthe first direction) as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the description givenbelow, of the plurality of linear electrodes 5 x, two electrodes thatare located at the outermost edges may be referred to as an outerelectrode 5 xa and an outer electrode 5 xb (first and second outerelectrodes), respectively, while other linear electrodes 5 x may bereferred to as inner electrodes 5 x (first inner electrodes) forpurposes of distinction. Each of the outer electrode 5 xa and the outerelectrode 5 xb is provided where it covers the outer periphery Aa of theactive region A. The linear electrodes 5 x are connected to the sensorcontroller 4 via the different wires 6 x (first routing wires) and thedifferent FPC connection terminals T.

The plurality of linear electrodes 5 y (second electrodes) extend in thex direction and are arranged side by side in the y direction asillustrated in FIG. 1. In the description given below, of the pluralityof linear electrodes 5 y, two electrodes that are located at theoutermost edges may be referred to as an outer electrode 5 ya and anouter electrode 5 yb (third and fourth outer electrodes), while otherlinear electrodes 5 y may be referred to as inner electrodes 5 y (secondinner electrodes) for purposes of distinction. Each of the outerelectrode 5 ya and the outer electrode 5 yb is provided where it coversthe outer periphery Aa of the active region A. The linear electrodes 5 yare connected to the sensor controller 4 via the different wires 6 y(second routing wires) and the different FPC connection terminals T.Although all the linear electrodes 5 y are connected to the wires 6 y onthe same side in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the figures which will be discussedlater, the linear electrodes 5 y may be connected to the wires 6 yalternately on the right and left in the figure from the outer electrode5 ya to the outer electrode 5 yb.

The plurality of guard wires LG ensure insulation between the pluralityof wires 6 x and the plurality of wires 6 y and are arranged in such amanner as to sandwich the plurality of wires 6 x and the plurality ofwires 6 y on both sides as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the pluralityof guard wires LG is also connected to the sensor controller 4 via thecorresponding FPC connection terminal T. The sensor controller 4 isconfigured to supply a specific potential such as ground potential toeach of the guard wires LG.

The plurality of guard wires LG may not be needed. The plurality ofguard wires LG may be linear conductors or mesh-shaped conductors. Theguard wires LG may be used to detect whether a pen exists at a bezelposition.

The adhesive sheet 23, the film 24, the adhesive sheet 25, and the coverglass 26 are stacked in this order from the side close to the displaypanel 3 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The adhesive sheets 23 and 25 includea clear adhesive compound such as OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) or OCR(Optical Clear Resin). The plurality of linear electrodes 5 x, theplurality of wires 6 x, the plurality of guard wires LG, and theplurality of FPC connection terminals T each connected to one of theplurality of wires 6 x and one of the plurality of guard wires LG, arearranged on a top surface (surface on the side of the cover glass 26) ofthe film 24. The adhesive tape 25 fastens these to the film 24. Theplurality of linear electrodes 5 y, the plurality of wires 6 y, theplurality of guard wires LG, and the plurality of FPC connectionterminals T each connected to one of the plurality of wires 6 y and oneof the plurality of guard wires LG, are arranged on a bottom surface ofthe film 24. The adhesive tape 23 fastens these to the film 24. Ifnecessary, the wires formed on the top surface of the film 24 and thoseformed on the bottom surface of the film 24 may be connected to eachother by via electrodes that penetrate the film 24. The plurality of FPCconnection terminals T are arranged side by side along one side of therectangular sensor panel 5 parallel to the x direction as illustrated inFIG. 1.

The top surface of the cover glass 26 is included in a touch surface 26a, a surface to be touched with a pen tip 10 a of an active pen 10 or auser's finger (not depicted). At least in the region overlapping theactive region A, each component member of the sensor panel 5 includingthis cover glass 26 includes a clear material or a non-clear materialwhose arrangement density is designed to permit passage of lighttherethrough such that the user may see an image appearing in the activeregion A through the sensor panel 5.

Next, the sensor controller 4 has a processor and a memory (both notdepicted) and is provided on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board or arigid board which is not depicted. The board on which the sensorcontroller 4 is provided is crimped to the plurality of FPC connectionterminals T arranged inside a wiring region of the sensor panel 5. As aresult, the sensor controller 4 and each of the wires in the sensorpanel 5 are electrically connected through this crimping.

The sensor controller 4 is functionally configured to detect a pointingposition of the active pen 10 and the user's finger (not depicted) onthe touch surface 26 a and receive a data signal from the active pen 10as a result of reading and execution of the program stored in the memoryby the processor. The detection of the pointing position of the activepen 10 is achieved by an active capacitive coupling scheme. On the otherhand, the detection of the pointing position of the user's finger isachieved by a capacitive scheme.

The capacitive sensing scheme acquires the pointing position of theuser's finger on the basis of a change in capacitance that takes placebetween the plurality of linear electrodes 5 x and 5 y and the user'sfinger. In the case of position detection through the capacitive sensingscheme, the sensor controller 4 sequentially supplies a given detectionsignal to each of the linear electrodes 5 x and measures the potentialof each of the plurality of linear electrodes 5 y each time thedetection signal is supplied. In the case where the user's fingerapproaches an intersection between one of the linear electrodes 5 x andone of the linear electrodes 5 y, part of a current flowing from thelinear electrode 5 x to the linear electrode 5 y flows toward the user'sbody, thereby resulting in a lower potential measured for the linearelectrode 5 y. The sensor controller 4 detects the pointing position bytaking advantage of this change in potential.

The active capacitive coupling scheme receives, with the sensor panel 5,a pen signal sent from the active pen 10 and detects, on the basis ofthe result thereof, the pointing position of the active pen 10. The pensignal includes a position signal, an unmodulated burst signal, and adata signal indicating a variety of types of data regarding the activepen 10. The variety of types of data includes pen pressure dataindicating the pressure applied to the pen tip 10 a of the active pen 10and other data. The active pen 10 may send a pen signal in response tothe reception of an uplink signal sent from the sensor controller 4 viathe linear electrodes 5 x and 5 y. In this case, the active pen 10preferably determines specific contents of data to be sent in a datasignal in accordance with a command included in the uplink signal.

In the case of detection of a pointing position by the active capacitivecoupling scheme, the sensor controller 4 receives a position signal witheach of the plurality of linear electrodes 5 x and 5 y and detects thepointing position of the active pen 10 on the basis of the resultthereof. A detailed description will be given later of the specificdetection method. The sensor controller 4 detects the data signal sentfrom the active pen 10 by using, of all the plurality of linearelectrodes 5 x and 5 y, the ones closest to the detected pointingposition.

FIG. 4 is a diagram describing detection of a pointing position throughan active capacitive coupling scheme. A description will be given belowof the case in which, of the sensor panel, the area of the portioninstalled outside the active region is large will be described withreference to FIG. 4. The pointing position detection method itself whichwill be described below was devised by the present inventor and is notpublicly known at the time of the priority date of the presentapplication.

FIG. 4 illustrates the outer electrode 5 xa and three inner electrodes 5x-1 to 5 x-3 in order from the side closer to the outer electrode 5 xa.Although a description will be given below with focus on these fourelectrodes, the same is true for other linear electrodes 5 x and 5 y.

A region DA0 illustrated in FIG. 4 depicts the region with the maximumposition signal reception strength on the outer electrode 5 xa. The sameis true for regions DA1 to DA3 which depict the regions with the maximumposition signal reception strengths on the inner electrodes 5 x-1 to 5x-3, respectively.

In the case where the pen tip 10 a of the active pen 10 is locatedinside the region DA1, the sensor controller 4 detects the x coordinateof the pen tip 10 a by referring to not only the reception strength ofthe position signal received by the inner electrode 5 x-1 but also thoseof the position signal received by the two adjacent linear electrodesthereof, i.e., the outer electrode 5 xa and the inner electrode 5 x-2.Specifically, the sensor controller 4 decides, on the basis of thereception strength on the inner electrode 5 x-1, whether the pen tip 10a is on a center line of the inner electrode 5 x-1 in the x direction orslightly off the center line in the x direction. This decision takesadvantage of the property of reception strength which decreases withincrease in distance of the pen tip 10 a from the center line in the xdirection.

In the case where the former is found to be true by the decision, thesensor controller 4 determines the x coordinate of the center line ofthe inner electrode 5 x-1 in the x direction as the x coordinate of thepen tip 10 a. On the other hand, in the case where the latter is foundto be true by the decision, the sensor controller 4 decides, on thebasis of the ratio between the reception strength on the outer electrode5 xa and that on the inner electrode 5 x-2, the direction ofdiscrepancy, i.e., whether the pen tip 10 a is off the center linetoward the outer electrode 5 xa or toward the inner electrode 5 x-2,and, next, decides, on the basis of the reception strength on theelectrode toward which the discrepancy has taken place, the magnitude ofthe discrepancy. The x coordinate of the pen tip 10 a is determined onthe basis of the result thereof. The sensor controller 4 successivelydecides the presence or absence of discrepancy, the direction ofdiscrepancy, and the magnitude of discrepancy in this manner and detectsthe x coordinate of the pen tip 10 a as a result of these decisions.

It is difficult for the sensor controller 4 to determine the xcoordinate by such a position detection method in the case where themaximum reception strength is observed on the outer electrode 5 xa. Thereason for this is that it is difficult to decide the direction ofdiscrepancy because of the absence of the other linear electrode 5 x onone side of the outer electrode 5 xa. For this reason, the sensorcontroller 4 is configured to consider that the direction in which theinner electrode 5 x-1 exists is the direction of discrepancy in the casewhere the maximum reception strength is observed on the outer electrode5 xa. It is difficult to detect the x coordinate on the outside from thecenter line of the outer electrode 5 xa (on the side where there is noadjacent linear electrode 5 x) by configuring the sensor controller 4 inthis manner alone. Therefore, the arrangement of the plurality of linearelectrodes 5 x is determined such that the center line of the outerelectrode 5 xa in the x direction overlaps (i.e., matches) or is locatedoutside the outer periphery Aa of the active region A. The inventor ofthe present application calls such an arrangement method of linearelectrodes an “active region outer periphery covering scheme.” The sameis true for the outer electrode 5 xb at the edge on the opposite sideand the outer electrodes 5 ya and 5 yb of the plurality of linearelectrodes 5 y.

The active region outer periphery covering scheme suitably detectscoordinates up to the edges of the active region A without coordinateswaying. On the other hand, it is necessary to arrange linear electrodesoutside the active region A, thus leading to a larger area of theportion of the sensor panel 5 provided outside the active region A. Thismay constitute a factor that hinders bezel slimming, an ongoing trend inrecent years. The present embodiment provides the sensor panel 5 thatsolves such a problem and realizes bezel slimming in the tabletelectronic equipment 1.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 to 3, the sensor controller 4 is configured toreport, to the host controller 2, the coordinates indicating thepointing positions of the active pen 10 and the user's finger detectedas described above and a variety of types of data included in the datasignal received from the active pen 10. The sensor controller 4 isconfigured to acquire, on the basis of pen pressure data received fromthe active pen 10, pen lowering information indicating the coming of theactive pen 10 into contact with the touch surface and pen raisinginformation indicating the detachment of the active pen 10 from thetouch surface and report these pieces of information to the hostcontroller 2 at their respective timings.

In response to input of the coordinates from the sensor controller 4,the host controller 2 at least displays a pointer or generates ink data.Of these, the display of a pointer is achieved by displaying a givenpointer image at the position corresponding to the input coordinates inthe active region A of the display panel 3.

Ink data includes control points and curve data. Each of the controlpoints includes one of a plurality of sets of coordinates sequentiallysupplied from the sensor controller 4. Curve data is obtained byinterpolating the control points with a given interpolation curve. Thehost controller 2 begins the generation of ink data regarding the user'sfinger when the coordinate input starts and terminates the generation ofink data when the coordinate input ends. The host controller 2 beginsthe generation of ink data regarding the active pen 10 when pen loweringinformation is input and terminates the generation of ink data when penraising information is input. When ink data regarding the active pen 10is generated, the host controller 2 controls the curve data width and/ortransparency included in the ink data on the basis of pen pressure datareceived from the active pen 10 and other data. The host controller 2performs rendering on the generated ink data, causes the rendered datato be displayed on the display panel 3, and stores the generated inkdata in its own memory.

The basic configuration of the electronic equipment 1 has been describedso far. A description will be given next of the characteristic portionof the sensor panel 5 according to the present technology. In thedescription given below, the background technology will be describedfirst with reference to the drawings, and then the characteristicportion of the sensor panel 5 according to the present technology willbe described in detail.

FIG. 11 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensor panel 5according to the background technology of the present technology. FIG.12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic equipment 1corresponding to line C-C illustrated in FIG. 11.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the sensor panel 5 according tothe background technology, the width of each of the plurality of linearelectrodes 5 x in the x direction and the width of each of the pluralityof linear electrodes 5 y in the y direction are both a fixed value W1(e.g., 4 mm). For example, therefore, in the case where the arrangementof the plurality of linear electrodes 5 x is determined such that thecenter line of the outer electrode 5 xa in the x direction overlaps theouter periphery Aa of the active region A, of the width W1 of the outerelectrode 5 xa, a width WP that sticks out of the active region A isequal to W1/2 (e.g., 2 mm). The same is true for the other outerelectrodes 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb.

However, if the outer electrodes 5 xa, 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb are allowedto stick out of the active region A by as much as W1/2, the area of theportion of the sensor panel 5 provided outside the active region A mayincrease. This hinders bezel slimming in the electronic equipment 1, anongoing trend in recent years, which is the reason why improvement maybe needed. The sensor panel 5 according to the present embodiment wasdevised in consideration of the above, and the reduction in area of theportion of the sensor panel 5 provided outside the active region A isrealized as compared to the background technology, thereby realizingbezel slimming in the electronic equipment 1.

A detailed description will be given below of the characteristic portionof the sensor panel 5 according to the present technology with referenceto FIG. 2 again.

In the sensor panel 5 according to the present embodiment, the width ofeach of the inner electrodes 5 x and 5 y is the fixed value W1 as withthe sensor panel 5 illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The width of each ofthe outer electrodes 5 xa, 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb is a fixed value W2(<W1) which is smaller than the fixed value W1. Therefore, for example,in the case where the arrangement of the plurality of linear electrodes5 x is determined such that the center line of the outer electrode 5 xain the x direction overlaps the outer periphery Aa of the active regionA, of the width W2 of the outer electrode 5 xa, a width WP that sticksout of the active region A is equal to W2/2. The same is true for theother outer electrodes 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb.

W2/2 is a value smaller than W1/2. Therefore, it may be said that thesensor panel 5 according to the present embodiment contributes, of eachof the outer electrodes 5 xa, 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb, to a reduced widthof the portion provided outside the active region A as compared to thebackground technology illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

As described above, the sensor panel 5 according to the presentembodiment contributes, at least for one of the outer electrodes 5 xa, 5xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb, to a reduced width of the portion provided outsidethe active region A. Therefore, the area of the portion of the sensorpanel 5 provided outside the active region A may be reduced, therebyrealizing bezel slimming in the tablet electronic equipment 1.

A description will be given next of a second embodiment of the presenttechnology. FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensorpanel 5 according to the second embodiment of the present technology.FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic equipment 1corresponding to line B-B illustrated in FIG. 5.

The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that atleast one of the outer electrodes 5 xa and 5 xb is arranged to overlapat least some of the plurality of wires 6 y and that at least one of theouter electrodes 5 ya and 5 yb is arranged to overlap at least some ofthe plurality of wires 6 x. Because the present embodiment is the sameas the first embodiment in all other respects, the same components as inthe first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, andthe present embodiment will be described with focus on the differencesfrom the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the outer electrode 5 xa is arranged tohave a cover section Cx (first cover section) that covers at least someof the plurality of wires 6 y (preferably two or more). Although notillustrated, the same is true for the outer electrode 5 xb. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the outer electrode 5 ya is arranged to have acover section Cy (second cover section) that covers at least some of theplurality of wires 6 x (preferably two or more). The outer electrode 5yb may not have a cover section because there is no wire 6 x in thecorresponding region as may be understood from FIG. 1. The width of eachof the outer electrodes 5 xa, 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb in the presentembodiment is W2 which is smaller than the width W1 of each of the innerelectrodes 5 x and 5 y as with the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the outer electrodes 5 xa, 5xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb may be arranged to overlap the wires 6 x and 6 y,thereby contributing to a reduced area of the portion of the sensorpanel 5 provided outside the active region A. Therefore, bezel slimmingin the tablet electronic equipment 1 may also be achieved by the presentembodiment.

The present embodiment also offers an additional advantageous effect inthat because the linear electrodes 5 x and 5 y are arranged in themajority of a region inside the bezel region, the active pen 10 locatedinside the bezel region may receive the above uplink signal.

FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensor panel 5according to a first modification example of the present embodiment. Inthe present embodiment, the width of each of the outer electrodes 5 xa,5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb is W2 as with the first embodiment. In the presentmodification example, however, the width of each of the outer electrodes5 xa, 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb is W1 which is the same as that of each ofthe inner electrodes 5 x and 5 y. By doing so, the advantageous effectof reducing the area of the portion of the sensor panel 5 providedoutside the active region A may be achieved, thereby realizing bezelslimming in the tablet electronic equipment 1.

A different problem may arise in the present embodiment. For thisreason, this problem and the configuration of the sensor panel 5 forsolving the problem will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a diagram describing the problem that may arise in the sensorpanel 5 according to the present embodiment. As described above, theplurality of FPC connection terminals T are arranged side by side alongone side of the rectangular sensor panel 5 parallel to the x direction(refer to FIG. 1). As a result, of the region overlapping the outerelectrode 5 xa, the density of the wires 6 y is different between a farregion Ar that is relatively far from the region (hereinafter referredto as a terminal region TA) where the plurality of FPC connectionterminals T are arranged and a close region An that is relatively closeto the terminal region TA. This gives rise to a difference in pen signalreception strength between the regions. In the far region Ar, parasiticcapacitance that occurs between it and the wires 6 y is smaller than inthe close region An, causing a pen signal to be received with higherstrength.

In the presence of a difference in pen signal reception strength betweenthe far region Ar and the close region An, the x coordinates calculatedin the two regions differ from each other. Even if the pen tip of theactive pen 10 is actually located at the same position as viewed in thex direction, a more outer x coordinate is detected near the far regionAr than near the close region An. Such a difference in the calculated xcoordinate between the far region Ar and the close region An is notdesirable, and improvement is needed.

Each of FIGS. 9A to 9C is a schematic enlarged view of part of thesensor panel 5 according to second to fourth modification examples ofthe second embodiment of the present technology. Each of these sensorpanels 5 includes a configuration for ensuring that no difference arisesin the calculated coordinate between the far area Ar and the close areaAn. The linear electrodes 5 x other than the outer electrode 5 xa areomitted in these figures. A detailed description will be given below ofthese modification examples one at a time.

The sensor panel 5 according to the second modification exampleillustrated in FIG. 9A includes dummy wires D that are arranged tooverlap the outer electrode 5 xa. The dummy wires D are provided in thesame layer as the plurality of wires 6 y in such a manner as not to beconnected to any of the plurality of wires 6 x and 6 y, and the lowerthe density of the wires 6 y, the more densely the dummy wires D arearranged. Ground potential is supplied to the dummy wires D from thesensor controller 4 as with the above guard wires LG.

The present modification example evens out the magnitude of parasiticcapacitance that occurs between the outer electrode 5 xa and itsoverlapping wires between the far area Ar and the close area An. Thisevens out the pen signal reception strength, thereby ensuring that nodifference arises in the calculated x coordinate between the far area Arand the close area An.

In the sensor panels 5 according to the third and fourth modificationexamples illustrated in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the outer electrode 5 xa isformed such that a width Wr in the x direction in the far region Ar issmaller than a width Wn in the x direction in the close region An. Thedifference between the third and fourth modification examples is thatwhile the outer electrode 5 xa becomes thinner in steps in accordancewith the number of wires 6 y in the third modification example, theouter electrode 5 xa becomes thinner in accordance with the distancefrom the terminal region TA in the fourth modification example.

Both the third and fourth modification examples even out the magnitudeof parasitic capacitance that occurs between the outer electrode 5 xaand its overlapping wires between the far area Ar and the close area An.This evens out the pen signal reception strength, thereby ensuring thatno difference arises in the calculated x coordinate between the far areaAr and the close area An.

Although the second to fourth modification examples have been describedwith focus on the outer electrode 5 xa, these modification examples aresimilarly applicable to the outer electrodes 5 xb and 5 ya. There is noneed to apply these modification examples to the outer electrode 5 ybbecause there is no wire 6 x that is arranged in an overlapping manneras may be understood from FIG. 1. In the case where there is a need toeven out the pen signal reception strength between the outer electrodes5 ya and 5 yb, the dummy wires D may be provided for the outer electrode5 yb, and the outer electrode 5 yb may be formed thinner than the outerelectrode 5 ya.

The difference in coordinate between the different regions occurs onlyin part of the active region A. Therefore, the second embodiment may beused depending on the coordinate accuracy required rather than applyingone of the second to fourth modification examples. The specific extentof the difference in the calculated x coordinate between the far regionAr and the close region An is determined when the configuration of thesensor panel 5 is determined. Therefore, the difference in thecalculated x coordinate may be dealt with by incorporating a correctionprocess into the coordinate calculation process of the sensor controller4 rather than correcting the physical configuration as in the second tofourth modification examples.

A description will be given next of a third embodiment of the presenttechnology. FIG. 10 is a schematic enlarged view of part of the sensorpanel 5 according to the third embodiment of the present technology. Inthe present embodiment, a description will be given of a configurationthat may be used in the case where each of the plurality of linearelectrodes 5 x and 5 y includes a mesh-shaped conductor. The overallconfiguration of the electronic equipment 1 is the same as thatdescribed in the first embodiment except that the sensor panel 5 has theconfiguration illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. In the description givenbelow, therefore, the same components as in the first embodiment will bedenoted by the same reference numerals, and the third embodiment will bedescribed with focus on the differences from the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 specifically illustrates mesh-shaped conductors included in theplurality of linear electrodes 5 x. Although each of the plurality oflinear electrodes 5 y is similarly a mesh-shaped conductor, they are notdrawn to avoid complexity of the drawing.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, in the present embodiment, the outerelectrode 5 xa includes a mesh-shaped conductor that is formed such thatthe mesh density is higher outside the active region A than inside theactive region A. More specifically, the outer electrode 5 xa ispreferably configured such that the mesh density increases gradually orin steps from inside the active region A toward outside the activeregion A. Although not illustrated, the same is true for the outerelectrodes 5 xb, 5 ya, and 5 yb.

In the present embodiment, a pen signal strength distribution near theouter electrode 5 xa may be moved more outward than in the case wherethe outer electrode 5 xa includes a uniform mesh-shaped conductor or auniform plate-shaped conductor. As a result, the sensor controller 4 maysuitably detect the x coordinate further beyond the center line of theouter electrode 5 xa in the x direction, thereby reducing the width WPof the portion of the outer electrode 5 xa provided outside the activeregion A to less than W1/2 as illustrated in FIG. 10. This means thatthe active region A may be spread more outward than in the backgroundtechnology. Therefore, it may be said that the present technologyrealizes bezel slimming in the tablet electronic equipment 1 as in thefirst and second embodiments.

The third embodiment is applicable to an outer electrode which is not amesh electrode. The outer electrode need only be configured such that acoupling capacitance formed between the electrode provided in the pentip 10 a of the active pen 10 and the outer electrode is larger in thecase where the pen tip 10 a is located outside the active region A thanin the case where the pen tip 10 a is located inside the active regionA.

Although preferred embodiments of the present technology have beendescribed so far, the present technology is not restricted in any way bythese embodiments, and it is a matter of course that the presenttechnology may be carried out in various ways without departing from thegist of the present technology.

For example, the sensor panel may have linear electrodes further outsidethe outer electrodes. Such linear electrodes are used, for example, todetect the presence of the active pen inside the bezel region. In thiscase, the term “outer electrodes” in the present technology refers to,of the plurality of linear electrodes used to detect coordinates in theactive region, those that are located at the outermost edges.

The outer electrodes may all be located outside the active region. Thesensor panel 5 described in the second embodiment is an example of asensor panel having outer electrodes configured in that manner.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sensor panel overlaid on a display apparatusand connected to an integrated circuit that detects a position of anactive pen in an active region of the display apparatus, the sensorpanel comprising: a plurality of first electrodes that extend in a firstdirection, wherein the first electrodes are arranged side by side in asecond direction different from the first direction, and are connectedto the integrated circuit by a plurality first routing wires that aredifferent from each other; and a plurality of second electrodes thatextend in the second direction, wherein the second electrodes arearranged side by side in the first direction, and are connected to theintegrated circuit by a plurality second routing wires that aredifferent from each other, wherein the first electrodes include firstand second outer electrodes that are located at outermost edges of thefirst electrodes and a plurality of first inner electrodes disposedbetween the first and second outer electrodes, and wherein a width of atleast one of the first and second outer electrodes in the seconddirection is smaller than a width of each of the first inner electrodesin the second direction.
 2. The sensor panel of claim 1, wherein: atleast one of the first and second outer electrodes covers an outerperiphery of the active region.
 3. The sensor panel of claim 2, wherein:at least one of the first and second outer electrodes is arranged suchthat a center position thereof in the second direction overlaps theouter periphery or is arranged outside the outer periphery.
 4. Thesensor panel of claim 1, wherein: the second electrodes include thirdand fourth outer electrodes that are located at outermost edges of thesecond electrodes and a plurality of second inner electrodes disposedbetween the third and fourth outer electrodes, and a width of at leastone of the first and second outer electrodes in the first direction issmaller than a width of each of the second inner electrodes in the firstdirection.
 5. A sensor panel overlaid on a display apparatus andconnected to an integrated circuit that detects a position of an activepen in an active region of the display apparatus, the sensor panelcomprising: a plurality of first electrodes that extend in a firstdirection, wherein the first electrodes are arranged side by side in asecond direction different from the first direction, and are connectedto the integrated circuit by a plurality first routing wires that aredifferent from each other; and a plurality of second electrodes thatextend in the second direction, wherein the second electrodes arearranged side by side in the first direction, and are connected to theintegrated circuit by a plurality second routing wires that aredifferent from each other, and wherein at least one of first and secondouter electrodes that are located at outermost edges of the firstelectrodes includes a first cover section that covers at least one ofthe second routing wires.
 6. The sensor panel of claim 5, wherein: thefirst cover section covers two or more of the routing wires.
 7. Thesensor panel of claim 5 further comprising: a plurality of dummy wiresthat overlap at least the first and second outer electrodes.
 8. Thesensor panel of claim 7, wherein: the dummy wires are not electricallyconnected to the first electrodes and the second electrodes.
 9. Thesensor panel of claim 8, wherein: a ground potential is supplied to thedummy wires.
 10. The sensor panel of claim 5 comprising: a terminalregion in which a plurality of terminals is provided, wherein each ofthe terminals is connected to one of the second routing wires, andwherein at least one of the first and second outer electrodes is formedsuch that a width in the second direction in a far region that isrelatively far from the terminal region is smaller than a width in thesecond direction in a close region that is relatively close to theterminal region.
 11. The sensor panel of claim 5, wherein: at least oneof third and fourth outer electrodes that are located at outermost edgesof the second electrodes includes a second cover section that covers atleast one of the first routing wires.
 12. A sensor panel overlaid on adisplay apparatus and connected to an integrated circuit that detects aposition of an active pen in an active region of the display apparatus,the sensor panel comprising: a plurality of first electrodes that extendin a first direction, wherein the first electrodes are arranged side byside in a second direction different from the first direction, and areconnected to the integrated circuit by a plurality first routing wiresthat are different from each other; a plurality of second electrodesthat extend in the second direction, wherein the second electrodes arearranged side by side in the first direction, and are connected to theintegrated circuit by a plurality second routing wires that aredifferent from each other, wherein the first electrodes include firstand second outer electrodes that are located at outermost edges of thefirst electrodes and a plurality of first inner electrodes that are thefirst electrodes other than the first and second outer electrodes, andwherein at least one of the first and second outer electrodes includes amesh-shaped conductor that is formed such that a mesh density outsidethe active region is higher than a mesh density inside the activeregion.